Card game

ABSTRACT

A secondary game to be played in combination with a primary card game in which the dealer deals a specified number of cards to a player, the dealer dealing said specified number of cards to each player and one card to himself, the dealer paying out on bets on the secondary game when the player has a card of the same suit as the dealer&#39;s card but of higher rank.

[0001] The present invention relates to an add-on game which may be played in combination with other conventional casino card games, in particular Poker or Blackjack.

[0002] In order to increase the appeal of casino card games such as Poker or Blackjack, in which the players play against the house, various side bets are incorporated, so that in addition to betting on whether the player's hand will beat a house hand, the player may, for example, also place bets as to the strength of his hand and be paid out odds on the basis of the strength of his hand.

[0003] Moreover, in order to increase the duration of each hand and thus the players' enjoyment, it has been proposed to combine two or more games, for example, combining Blackjack and Poker.

[0004] According to one aspect of the present invention, a secondary game to be played in combination with a primary card game in which the dealer deals a specified number of cards to a player, comprises the dealer dealing said specified number of cards to each player and one card to himself, the dealer paying out on bets on the secondary game when the player has a card of the same suit as the dealer's card but of higher rank.

[0005] The secondary game in accordance with the present invention may be played at the beginning of or after completion of the primary card game.

[0006] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the dealer's card must be below a specified value, the dealer continuing to deal the cards to himself, until the value of the card is below that specified value.

[0007] According to a further embodiment, the player is paid out on the bet on the secondary game, when the player has a card of the same suit as the card dealt to the dealer and of above a specified rank, irrespective of the rank of the dealer's card.

[0008] The specified number of cards in the player's hand may be of any number, the odds paid out being calculated accordingly. Different odds may be paid out, depending upon the combination of suits and ranks of the cards held by the player.

[0009] Where the primary card game includes the player being dealt optional additional cards, for example as in Blackjack, the second game may be played after completion of the primary card game, any optional cards dealt to the player during the primary card game also counting in the secondary game.

[0010] The card game played in accordance with the present invention may also be played on the Internet, video slot machines, computers or interactive television.

[0011] The invention is now described in the following examples:—

EXAMPLE 1 Blackjack-Block™

[0012] As illustrated in FIG. 1, a conventional Blackjack gaming cloth having areas 1 in which each player may place bets on the outcome of the game of Blackjack, has additional betting areas 2 marked BK in which the players may place bets on the outcome of a secondary game Blocks.

[0013] Each player wishing to participate in the game of Blackjack places bets in area 1 and optionally a side Block™ bet in area 2.

[0014] The dealer then deals two cards face up to each player and one card face up to himself.

[0015] Players who have placed bets in area 2 will then be paid out on the Block™ bet, if at least one of the player's cards is the same suit as the dealer's card and of higher rank than the dealer's card. The odds paid out to the player on the Block™ bet are as set out in Table 1. TABLE 1 Block Type Description Pay Out Normal One of player's cards of same suit  2 to 1 Block and higher rank than dealers' card Flush Two of player's cards of same suit and at least Block one of higher rank than the dealer's card  5 to 1 Pair One of player's cards of same suit as the dealer's 10 to 1 Block card, the player's cards being of the same rank and higher than the rank of the dealer's card Ultimate Two of player's cards of same suit as dealer's 35 to 1 Block card, the player's cards being of the same rank and higher than the rank of the dealer's card

[0016] After the bets on the secondary Block™ game, the cards dealt to the players and dealer are played under conventional Blackjack rules, to decide the outcome of the bets placed in area 1.

[0017] In an alternative Blackjack based game, the Blackjack game may be completed before the Block™ bets are decided. In this case, the dealer's Blackjack hand after completion of the Blackjack game is removed and the dealer deals himself a further single card face up. The Block™ bets are then decided on comparison of the single dealer's card against the two cards dealt initially to each player plus any optional cards dealt to the player during the play of the Blackjack hand.

EXAMPLE 2 Casino Hold'em Poker Plus Block™

[0018] As illustrated in FIG. 2, the conventional Casino Hold'em Poker playing cloth having betting areas 4 marked Ante and 5 marked Call for each player is modified by inclusion of a third betting area 6 marked BK for Block™ side bets.

[0019] Players wishing to participate in the Casino Hold'em Poker Game and optionally in the Block™ side bet, place bets in areas 3 and 5.

[0020] The Casino Hold'em Poker Game is then played in conventional manner:—

[0021] the dealer deals two cards face down to each player and two cards face down to himself;

[0022] the dealer then deals three common cards face up;

[0023] if the player decides to continue with the hand dealt to him, he places a further bet in the area 4, or if the player decides to pass then the dealer takes the player's bet from area 3 and the player's cards are placed face down behind the BlockT™ side bet area 5;

[0024] the dealer then deals two further common cards face up;

[0025] for players who have called the bet, the best poker hand of five cards made up from the two cards dealt to the player and the five common cards, is then compared against the best poker hand of five cards made up of the dealer's two cards plus the five common cards, the dealer paying out on the bets where the player's hand out ranks the dealer's hand, on the conventional poker ranking.

[0026] Upon completion of the Casino Hold'em Poker Game, the dealer's cards and common cards are removed and the dealer deals himself a further single card face up.

[0027] The dealer's single card is then compared against the initial two cards dealt to each player to decide the Block™ bet placed in area 6, in similar manner to that described above.

EXAMPLE 3 Caribbean Stud Poker with Block™

[0028] Each player wishing to participate in the Caribbean Stud Poker Game places a bet in the Ante betting area 4 and optionally also a Block™ side bet in area 6, see FIG. 2.

[0029] The Caribbean Stud Poker Game is then played in conventional manner:—

[0030] the dealer deals five cards face down to each player and five cards, one face up and the other four face down to himself;

[0031] If the player decides to call the poker hand, he places a further bet in area 5, otherwise he passes and loses the bet placed in area 4 to the dealer;

[0032] provided that the dealer's hand reaches a predetermined minimum requirement, for example, Ace/King then the player's hand is compared with the dealer's hand on conventional poker rankings to decide the outcome of the poker bet. If the player beats the dealer's hand or the dealer does not reach the predetermined minimum requirement, then the odds paid to the player depend upon the poker ranking of the player's hand, in conventional manner.

[0033] Upon completion of the Caribbean Stud Poker Game, the dealer's cards are removed and the dealer deals himself a further single card face up.

[0034] Regardless of the outcome of the Casino Stud Poker Game, the initial five cards dealt to each player are then compared with the dealer's card, the player winning the Block™ side bet, if at least one card is of the same suit and of higher rank than the dealer's card.

[0035] As with Example 1, calculated odds may be paid out on the Block™ side bet depending on the combination of cards held by the player.

EXAMPLE 4 Casino Omaha Poker with Block™

[0036] Players wishing to participate in the game place bets in areas 4 and optionally a Block™ side bet in area 6.

[0037] The Casino Omaha Poker Game is then played in conventional manner:—

[0038] the dealer deals three cards face down to each player and three cards face down to himself.

[0039] the dealer then deals three additional common cards face up in the middle of the table.

[0040] the players then decides whether to continue by calling and placing a further bet in area 5, or passing and losing the bet placed in area 4 to the dealer.

[0041] the dealer will then deal two additional common cards.

[0042] for each player that has called, the best five card poker hand composed of at least two out of three of the cards dealt to the player, the remainder being selected from the five common cards being compared against the best five card poker hand from at least two out of three of the dealer's cards, the remaining cards being selected from the five common cards.

[0043] provided that the dealer reaches a minimum qualifying value, for example a pair of sevens, the winner is decided on the conventional poker ranking. If the player's hand beats the dealer's hand, then the odds paid out will depend on the ranking of the poker hand in conventional manner.

[0044] Upon completion of the Casino Omaha Poker Game, the dealer's hand and common cards are removed and the dealer deals himself a single card face up.

[0045] To decide the Block™ side bet, the original three cards dealt to each player, irrespective of the outcome of the Casino Omaha Poker Game, are then compared against the dealer's single card, the player winning the Block™ side bet, if he has a card of the same suit and of higher rank than the dealer's card.

[0046] The odds paid out to a player winning the Block™ side bet are calculated depending upon the cards held by the player, in similar manner to that described in Example 1.

EXAMPLE 5 Casino Hold'em Poker with Block 9™

[0047] To participate in the game, a player places bets in areas 4 and optionally a Block 9™ side bet in area 6, see FIG. 2.

[0048] The Casino Hold'em Poker Game is then played in conventional manner, as described in Example 2.

[0049] Upon completion of the Casino Hold'em Poker Game, the dealer removes his cards and the common cards.

[0050] The dealer then deals cards to himself, one at a time, face up, until he deals a 9 or lower. The initial two cards dealt to each player irrespective of the outcome of the Casino Hold'em Poker Game, are then compared against the last card dealt to the dealer, the player winning the Block 9™ side bet if he has a card of the same suit as the dealer but of higher rank. Calculated odds are paid out on the bet, depending upon the cards held by the player in similar manner to that described in Example 1.

[0051] In the above-mentioned example, values other than 9 may be selected.

[0052] Various modifications may be made without departing from the invention. For example, the rules of the primary card game may be varied and other side bets may be included. 

What I claim is:
 1. A secondary game to be played in combination with a primary card game in which the dealer deals a specified number of cards to a player, comprising the dealer dealing said specified number of cards to each player and one card to himself, the dealer paying out on bets on the secondary game when the player has a card of the same suit as the dealer's card but of higher rank.
 2. A game according to claim 1 in which the primary card game is one of the group including blackjack and poker.
 3. A game according to claim 1 in which the primary card game is one of the group including Casino Hold'em Poker, Caribbean Stud Poker and Casino Omaha poker.
 4. A game according to claim 1 in which the secondary game is played at the start of the primary game.
 5. A game according to claim 1 in which the secondary game is played after completion of the primary game.
 6. A game according to claim 5 in which at the completion of the primary game the dealer's cards and any common cards are removed, the dealer dealing himself a further single card for use in the secondary game.
 7. A game according to claim 1 in which the dealer's card must be equal to or below a specified value, the dealer dealing cards to himself, one by one until the card is equal to or below the specified value.
 8. A game according to claim 1 in which the dealer pays out on the bet on the secondary game if the player has a card of the same suit as the dealer's card and above a specified value.
 9. A game according to claim 1 in which the primary card game involves the dealing of additional optional cards to the player, such additional optional cards also being used in the secondary game.
 10. A game according to claim 1 in which the odds paid out to a player winning the secondary game depend on the cards held by the player, in addition to the card that is the same suit and of higher rank that the dealer's card. 